SouthCoast: Home to the Most Generous People in America

Years from now, when I’m retired and reflecting on my decades of work at Fun 107, some of my proudest moments will undoubtedly come from our partnership with the United Way of Greater New Bedford on Holiday Wish Week.

We just wrapped up our 10th year of spotlighting families who have faced particularly tough times in 2024 and need help to make the holidays special. Thinking about it, that’s 50 families who’ve felt the warm embrace of our community.

To be technical, it’s actually more than 50 families because, in our first year, we extended Holiday Wish Week to more than five days. We were rookies back then and didn’t realize the emotional toll it would take to promise to help make the holidays brighter for so many SouthCoast families.

Even after 10 years, the SouthCoast’s generosity continues to amaze me. Local business owners, without hesitation, will call in to donate $500 to a family they’ve never met but know is in need—and that’s all that matters to them.

While we deeply appreciate the larger donations, sometimes it’s the smaller ones that touch my heart the most. Don’t get me wrong, I love the $500 contributions, but there’s something incredibly moving about a 7-year-old donating their allowance to help another child who needs it more. Those moments remind me that some parents are raising their kids right.

Throughout my time at Fun 107, I’ve noticed a consistent truth in the countless fundraising events I’ve been a part of: SouthCoast residents who have the least are often the most generous. I think it’s because they understand what it’s like to go without, and if they can give even a little, it means someone else might not have to experience the same struggles.

Holiday Wish: Stats and Facts

Over the past 10 years, the SouthCoast has donated more than $420,000 to Holiday Wish families. Here’s what those contributions have accomplished:

• 41 auto-related expenses, including insurance, car payments, and repairs, have been covered.
• 7 adaptive pieces of equipment have been purchased.
• 36 pieces of furniture and appliances have been provided.
• 16 essential home improvement projects have been completed.
• Donations have paid for 88 months of rent and mortgages and 60 utility bills.
• 67 medical bills have been covered.
• 46 gift cards for toys, clothing, and food have been donated.